Ethik-BGC is a social economic project of FEM International. Founded in 2005 and based in Montreal, FEM International is a non-profit organization involved in promoting gender equality, the economic rights of women and sustainable development.

Launced in 2009, Ethik-BGC is an incubator for sustainable socio-economic companies, a platform for education and awareness-raising for designers and consumers. It provides eco-designers here and elsewhere a place for training, exhibits and selling their creations. For consumers, Ethik-BGC offers a variety of products and casual theme nights to teach and inform people about what’s new in ethical fashion and responsible consumption.

Themes

The project is unique because it can be divided into two major parts: the niche’s novelty that the project is part of ethical fashion and Ethik-BGC’s role as incubator. Both parts involve research, exchange of ideas and procedures, collaboration between various players (designers and consumers among others) finding practical solutions to problems that the conventional fashion industry asks.

In terms of creativity, it’s found in the ways that messages are conveyed and carried out. Awareness and promotional campaigns, fashion shows – everything that is the complete antithesis of the ephemeral industry associated with conventional fashion.

Ethik-BGC is a collaborative project that builds on common resources, as much from promotional organizations as eco-designers, and creating a network to support, promote and give value to creations by women entrepreneurs here and elsewhere.

Ethik-BGC came from a need to have a direct point of sale expressed by 30 eco-designers that were consulted in 2007. Consequently, FEM International wanted to unite all of the organization’s actions, to know about the promotional activities and training, and had the idea for a point of sale to make an incubator.